Method for planter depth monitoring
An improved method of monitoring penetration of a planting unit into a ground surface comprising engaging a planting unit with a ground surface wherein the planting unit has a planting unit frame and the planting unit frame is cooperatively engaged with a support member by a planting frame and wherein the planting unit comprises, a seed trench opening assembly operable to create a seed trench in a ground surface, a depth regulating member having a vertical position relative to the seed trench opening assembly and monitoring penetration of the furrow forming structure into the ground surface.
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The methods described herein are generally applicable to the field of agricultural equipment. The embodiments shown and described herein are more particularly for improved delivery of seed to a furrow as used with seed planter row units.
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONSThis non-provisional utility patent application entitled “Method for Planter Depth Monitoring” and is a continuation of the non-provisional utility patent application filed on Jul. 14, 2006, and assigned Ser. No. 11/486,728 by the USPTO, is incorporated by reference herein. A non-provisional utility patent application entitled “Apparatus for Planter Depth Monitoring” and was also filed on Jul. 14, 2006, and assigned Ser. No. 11/486,729 by the USPTO, is also incorporated by reference herein. Applicant claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §120 from both of the preceding cited and co-pending patent applications.
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENTNo federal funds were used to develop or create the invention disclosed and described in the patent application.
REFERENCE TO SEQUENCE LISTING, A TABLE, OR A COMPUTER PROGRAM LISTING COMPACT DISK APPENDIXNot Applicable
Referring now to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals designate identical or corresponding parts throughout the several views,
In the embodiment shown in
In the embodiment shown in
When the gauge wheel 8 is fully engaged with the ground surface 5 (as represented by
The operation of the embodiment shown in
Although not shown, it will be apparent to those skilled in the arts that a limit switch may also be used in combination with the stop and depth regulating means for depth monitoring or indication. In this embodiment, the target portion of the limit switch would be mounted to the stop means and a switch activator mounted to the depth regulating means, wherein said depth monitor or indicator means would be actuated by physical contact between the target and switch activator portions of the limit switch. In another embodiment, not shown, the target portion of the limit switch would be mounted to the depth regulating means and a switch activator mounted to the stop means, wherein said depth monitor or indicator means would be actuated by physical contact between the target and switch activator portions of the limit switch.
The scope of the current invention is not limited by the choice of switch, switch types or number of switches employed to detect differences in the vertical relation between the furrow opening means 4 and the gauge wheels 8 in any of the embodiments. Any other detection means or technology, such as a mechanical device, an electro-mechanical device, electro-photo device or any combinations thereof, may be used as a depth monitoring or indicating means as recited in the claims.
As with the previously described embodiment, when the gauge wheels 8 are not fully engaged with the ground surface 5, the furrow opening assembly 4 is not penetrating the ground surface 5 to the desired depth and the gauge wheels 8 are allowed to assume a lower vertical relation with respect to the other elements of the planting unit 2, which subsequently changes the relative vertical position of the gauge wheels 8 and the furrow opening assembly 8.
In planting units 2 such as those described herein, the weight of the elements attached to the planting unit frame 3 generally provide a first source of down pressure to the furrow opening assembly 4. As such, down pressure is necessary for the penetration of the ground surface 5 by the furrow opening assembly 4 and the proper amount of down pressure is critical to achieving optimal emergence and yields. Many times additional means of providing the furrow opening assembly 4 with down pressure are employed and typically called supplemental down pressure systems and may include pneumatic systems, spring tension systems or pressurized fluid systems. The disclosed invention is applicable to all types of planters regardless of whether the planter is outfitted with a supplemental down pressure means and if so, which type it employs. Accordingly, the scope of the present invention is not limited by the presence or absence of supplemental down pressure means on a given planting unit 2 or the type of supplemental down pressure means.
By providing the operator with a display to alert the operator to whether the furrow opening assembly 4 is penetrating the ground surface 5 to the desired depth, the depth monitoring apparatus provides an efficient means for determining if more or less down pressure is needed under a given set of planting conditions. As disclosed in the prior art, those skilled in the arts have provided adequate means for control and or adjustment of the down pressure applied. Furthermore, the display means may be incorporated with a computer programmed to compile a percentage of acres for which the furrow opening assembly 4 penetrated the ground surface 5 at the selected depth for each planting unit 2, thereby providing the operator with a data set to use when adjusting the down pressure to the optimal amount. The display means could also be integrated with existing planter monitors that display other information critical to optimal operation, such as seed delivery, seed delivery rate, acres planted, global positioning systems data and or seed population per acre.
It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the specific embodiments pictured and described herein, but is intended to apply to all similar methods for monitoring, indicating or validating depth control and or furrow penetration of a planting, seeding or drill unit during operation. Accordingly, modifications and alterations from the described embodiments will occur to those skilled in the art without departure from the spirit and scope of the present invention.
Claims
1. An improved method of monitoring penetration of a planting unit into a ground surface comprising:
- a. engaging a planting unit with a ground surface wherein said planting unit has a planting unit frame and said planting unit frame is cooperatively engaged with a support member wherein the planting unit comprises: i. a seed trench opening assembly operable to create a seed trench in a ground surface; ii. a seed delivery assembly delivering seeds into the seed trench; iii. a seed trench closing assembly operable to close the seed trench; iv. a depth regulating member having a vertical position relative to said seed trench opening assembly, wherein said depth regulating member experiences an actual vertical force that controls ground surface engagement; v. a pivoting arm assembly connecting said depth regulating member to said planting unit frame; and vi. a stop means mechanically engaging a portion of said pivoting arm assembly for defining a limit for vertical motion of said depth regulating member in the direction substantially opposite said ground surface;
- b. applying down pressure to said planting unit to ensure penetration of said planting unit into said ground surface;
- c. allowing the planting unit to respond to terrain and elevation changes in said ground surface while maintaining a desired depth of seed placement during travel across said ground surface;
- d. controlling the down pressure applied to the planting unit; and,
- e. monitoring penetration of said furrow forming means into said ground surface wherein the depth monitoring means indicates engagement of said arm assembly with said stop means.
2. The improved method of monitoring penetration of said planting unit into said ground surface as set forth in claim 1 further comprising transmitting engagement information of said arm assembly with said stop means through a transmission means to a display means.
3. The improved method of monitoring penetration of said planting unit into said ground surface as set forth in claim 2 wherein said transmission means is in communication with a data collection means.
4. The improved method of monitoring penetration of said planting unit into said ground surface as set forth in claim 3 wherein said data collection means is a computer.
5. The improved method of monitoring penetration of said planting unit into said ground surface as set forth in claim 4 wherein said computer has an operator interface for communication with a planting unit assembly operator.
6. The improved method of monitoring penetration of said planting unit into said ground surface as set forth in claim 5 wherein said computer is integrated into a planter monitor.
7. The improved method of monitoring penetration of said planting unit into said ground surface as set forth in claim 1 wherein said depth monitoring means indicates penetration of said furrow forming means into said ground surface through indication and comparison of the selected vertical difference between said depth regulation means and said furrow forming means with the measured vertical difference between said depth regulation means and said furrow forming means.
8. The improved method of monitoring penetration of said planting unit into said ground surface as set forth in claim 1 wherein said depth monitoring means has an indication means selected from the group consisting of mechanical devices, electro-mechanical devices, electro-photo devices and combinations thereof.
9. The improved method of monitoring penetration of said planting unit into said ground surface as set forth in claim 1 further comprising adjusting the down pressure applied to the planting unit through a supplemental down pressure means for controlling the down pressure to said planting unit.
10. An improved method of monitoring penetration of a planting unit into a ground surface comprising:
- a. engaging a planting unit with a ground surface wherein said planting unit has a planting unit frame and said planting unit frame is cooperatively engaged with a support member wherein the planting unit comprises: i. a seed trench opening assembly operable to create a seed trench in a ground surface; ii. a seed delivery assembly delivering seeds into the seed trench; iii. a seed trench closing assembly operable to close the seed trench; iv. a depth regulating member having a vertical position relative to said seed trench opening assembly, wherein said depth regulating member experiences an actual vertical force that controls ground surface engagement; v. a pivoting arm assembly connecting said depth regulating member to said planting unit frame; and vi. a stop means mechanically engaging a portion of said pivoting arm assembly for defining a limit for vertical motion of said depth regulating member in the direction substantially opposite said ground surface;
- b. applying down pressure to said planting unit to ensure penetration of said planting unit into said ground surface;
- c. allowing the planting unit to respond to terrain and elevation changes in said ground surface while maintaining a desired depth of seed placement during travel across said ground surface;
- d. controlling the down pressure applied to the planting unit;
- e. monitoring penetration of said furrow forming means into said ground surface; and
- f. indicating engagement of said arm assembly with said stop means for detecting presence or absence of furrow forming means penetration into said ground surface.
11. The improved method of monitoring penetration of said planting unit into said ground surface as set forth in claim 10 further comprising transmitting engagement information of said arm assembly with said stop means through a transmission means to a display means.
12. The improved method of monitoring penetration of said planting unit into said ground surface as set forth in claim 11 wherein said transmission means is in communication with a data collection means.
13. The improved method of monitoring penetration of said planting unit into said ground surface as set forth in claim 12 wherein said data collection means is a computer.
14. The improved method of monitoring penetration of said planting unit into said ground surface as set forth in claim 13 wherein said computer has an operator interface for communication with a planting unit assembly operator.
15. The improved method of monitoring penetration of said planting unit into said ground surface as set forth in claim 14 wherein said computer is integrated into a planter monitor.
16. The improved method of monitoring penetration of said planting unit into said ground surface as set forth in claim 10 wherein penetration of said ground surface by said furrow forming means is through indication and comparison of the selected vertical difference between said depth regulation means and said furrow forming means with the measured vertical difference between said depth regulation means and said furrow forming means.
17. The improved method of monitoring penetration of said planting unit into said ground surface as set forth in claim 10 wherein the means of indication of engagement of said arm assembly with said stop means for detecting presence or absence of furrow forming means penetration into said ground surface is selected from the group consisting of mechanical devices, electro-mechanical devices, electro-photo devices and combinations thereof.
18. The improved method of monitoring penetration of said planting unit into said ground surface as set forth in claim 10 further comprising adjusting the down pressure applied to the planting unit through a supplemental down pressure means for controlling the down pressure to said planting unit.
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Type: Grant
Filed: Dec 18, 2006
Date of Patent: Apr 22, 2008
Assignee: (Elkton, KY)
Inventor: Howard D. Martin (Elkton, KY)
Primary Examiner: Christopher J. Novosad
Attorney: Law Office of Jay R. Hamilton, PLC
Application Number: 11/640,560
International Classification: A01C 5/00 (20060101); A01C 13/00 (20060101); G06F 7/70 (20060101); G06F 19/00 (20060101); G06G 7/00 (20060101);